2015 Ford Mustang: Same Power, Fewer Cylinders, Better MPG?

A turbocharged four-cylinder version of the next generation of the Ford Mustang, due for the 2015 model year, has been widely reported around the web--but it had been assumed it would be for non-U.S. consumption.

That has changed.

In fact, it appears that the U.S. may very well get the engine, if a report from Road & Track proves true.

What would a turbocharged four-cylinder 2015 Mustang offer? A likely scenario is a 2.3-liter engine rated at about 300 horsepower--very close to the current V-6's output.

Power output could be higher, however, as the turbo four Mustang is thought to be a step-up model from the 305-horsepower base V-6.

Gas mileage from a turbocharged four-cylinder should prove to be at least as good as the current V-6's 19/31 mpg--and quite possibly much better with the greater efficiency and low-rpm torque of a turbocharged engine, at least when not driven at full throttle.

The current Mustang tips the scales at about 3,500 pounds--a number that should shrink a bit for the 2015 model, though it's expected to ride on an updated version of the existing platform, so it's not likely to lose hundreds upon hundreds of pounds

The 2015 Mustang will offer independent rear suspension, a first for the pony car since the 1999-2004 SVT Cobra.

Turbocharged four-cylinders aren't new to the Mustang range either, though it predates the Cobra's independent rear suspension, having been offered in the Mustang SVO from 1984-1986.

For more details on what to expect from the 2015 Ford Mustang, including spy shots of the car in testing, visit the in-depth coverage at our sister site, Motor Authority.